Health Department Launches 'Quit in June' Campaign for World No Tobacco Day

DH launches Quit in June campaign in support of World No Tobacco Day

The Department of Health (DH) today (May 23) announced a series of promotional activities for the Quit in June campaign in response to World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and to encourage smokers to quit smoking in order to reduce their risk of tobacco-related diseases and deaths.

The World Health Organization designates May 31 as World No Tobacco Day. The theme for this year is "Unmasking the appeal: Exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products", which reveals the tactics used by the tobacco industries to make their harmful tobacco products more appealing.

"The DH launched the Quit in June campaign in 2021 to promote smoking cessation services. Starting in 2022, one-week trial packs of smoking cessation drugs (nicotine replacement therapy) have been offered to smokers free of charge to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and increase the success rate of quitting smoking. Last year (2024), the DH distributed over 3 000 trial packs throughout Hong Kong. The trial packs were well received by smokers who wanted to quit smoking. In view of this, the DH will continue to offer the trial packs this year through more than 250 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses, as well as DH clinics to help smokers quit," the Head of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the DH, Dr Manny Lam, said.

"Furthermore, the DH introduced a trial programme under the campaign on the use of Chinese medicine (CM) ear points patches for smoking cessation last year, which involves the application of ear points patches on the surface of the smoker's ear(s) to stimulate relevant ear points. Most of the smokers who have tried the ear points patches considered that they can help alleviate the symptoms of addiction, and the results were satisfactory. In view of this, the DH will continue to distribute the CM ear points patches this year and will expand to more than 50 CM clinics operated by Pok Oi Hospital, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service across the territory, covering more than 200 locations in total," he added.

Starting from May 30, smokers who wish to quit smoking can go to the locations displaying the orange stickers for the CM ear points patches, or the green stickers for the one-week smoking cessation drugs trial pack. After a brief assessment, they can scan the QR code with the "Quit Smoking App" and receive free CM ear points patches or a one-week trial pack of smoking cessation drugs.

"Apart from the integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline, which was set up by the DH to handle general enquiries and provide professional counselling on smoking cessation, there are also a number of smoking cessation clinics and District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses throughout Hong Kong that provide free smoking cessation services. People who wish to quit smoking can make an appointment at any time. They may also make use of the mail-to-quit service to receive free cessation medications by post and follow-up phone calls, which meet the needs of different people. Moreover, the DH has subvented three more CM smoking cessation service providers (increasing from one to four) this year to operate smoking cessation clinics with an emphasis on counselling and acupuncture. It is expected that the number of service users will double. Quitting smoking at any age brings immediate and long-term health benefits. Smokers who stay tobacco-free for four weeks are five times more likely to quit for good. For the health of yourself and your family, don't hesitate. Don't make any more excuses to postpone quitting. Make a resolution to start quitting smoking in June," Dr Lam added.

The DH has started broadcasting "We are all in this together. Quit Now" television and radio announcements in the public interest and has stepped up promotion through public transportation networks and social media to encourage smokers to quit and support them during Smoke-Free Month.

Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on quitting and the available supporting tools and services. They can also download the "Quit Smoking App" to keep track of their progress in quitting and obtain tips on dealing with cravings to stay tobacco-free.

DH launches Quit in June campaign in support of World No Tobacco Day Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH launches Quit in June campaign in support of World No Tobacco Day Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Notes exchange service and electronic lai-see for Chinese New Year

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

As the Chinese New Year draws near, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited) announced today (January 13) that new notes and good-as-new notes, i.e. used notes which are in good condition and suitable for use as lai-see, will be available for exchange at branches of the three note-issuing banks from February 3 (Tuesday) to February 16 (Monday).

The HKMA encourages the public to use electronic channels including the Faster Payment System available via online or mobile banking, or other e-wallet services for giving lai-see. Giving electronic lai-see is simple and convenient, and will contribute to sustainable development by reducing the usage of physical red packets and banknotes. Major banks and electronic payment operators will encourage giving electronic lai-see by various promotional programmes. The public may refer to the details of these programmes as and when announced by banks and operators.

The three note-issuing banks will put in place appropriate measures to facilitate the notes exchange, including:

(1)

Advancing the opening hour to 8am on the first 3 days of the service period, i.e. February 3 (Tuesday) to February 5 (Thursday), and dedicating the aforesaid additional operation hour, i.e. 8am to 9am, exclusively for providing the notes exchange service;

(2)

Offering online booking service for both new notes and good-as-new notes starting from January 27 (Tuesday), details of which will be announced by individual note-issuing banks within next week; and

(3)

Putting in place crowd management measures such as distributing physical tickets and implementing queue management when needed.

Members of the public who desire to use cash for giving lai-see may wish to check for any remaining stock of new notes or good-as-new notes at home before going to a bank. Also, there is no need to rush to exchange for new notes and good-as-new notes during the first few days of the service period as banks will ensure the supply of these notes throughout the service period.

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